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All things mental and physical health! You’ll find in-depth interviews with runners as we delve into why they run and what keeps them running. And interviews with specialists on the brain and the effects of exercise on it – chemically and physically. Plus tips to keep you moving with a positive mindset.. So much goodness
Episodes
Jun 16, 2026
Jun 16, 2026
1hr 7 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the lovely Rachael Johnstone - mum of three, hairdresser, backyard ultra runner, sister-in-law and best friend of Nagiska, and someone who somehow manages to fit 80-100km of running into a very full life.
Rach grew up in Koo Wee Rup as one of four kids, in a busy household full of sport, family, chaos, and noise. As a kid, she loved being active - netball, swimming, cross country, athletics, hockey, t-ball - basically all the things. But like so many teenage girls, sport slowly faded into the background when friends, social life, and fitting in became more important.
After leaving school at the end of Year 11, Rach became a hairdresser and spent around 20 years at the same salon - including some very long commutes, early starts, and years on her feet.
But this conversation is about much more than running.
Rach speaks openly about becoming a young mum, meeting her husband Pete, going through IVF, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, grief, family life, giving up alcohol, and eventually finding running in a way that completely changed her life.
Her running started small - 1.5km to 3km in the morning before work, just around the well-lit streets near home. She didn’t necessarily love the running part at first, but she loved how she felt afterwards.
Then, when her daughter Jada was six weeks old, Rach found a $20 running pram on Marketplace - and that little bargain pram helped launch a whole new chapter.
From there, running grew.
A few kilometres became a half marathon with the pram on a random Wednesday. Then came bigger adventures, backyard ultras, trail races, 50Ks, Two Bays, Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, Tarawera, Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, and now a focus on GV Backyard Ultra.
What I loved most about this chat is how normal and real Rach makes it all sound.
She doesn’t pretend she has endless free time. She doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. She runs early, late, around kids, around work, around dinner, around life. Sometimes she gets 10km. Sometimes she gets 1km. But she keeps showing up.
And for Rach, running is not just fitness.
It’s thinking time.
It’s processing time.
It’s self-care.
It’s discipline.
It’s a way to be a better mum, wife, friend, and human.
We talk about:
- growing up sporty, then drifting away from sport as a teenager
- becoming a hairdresser and working long days on her feet
- becoming a young mum
- IVF, miscarriage, grief, and healing
- giving up alcohol and choosing a different life for her family
- starting running with tiny morning runs
- the legendary $20 running pram
- running her first half marathon with the pram
- why she often runs alone
- fitting running around three kids, work, and family life
- communicating with her husband Pete so they both get time to run
- why she runs every day when she can - even if it’s only 1km
- backyard ultras and why she loves the format
- learning from podcasts while running
- strength training, injury prevention, and respecting recovery
- showing her kids what is possible
- why mums need to stop seeing self-care as selfish
- her love of the ultra-running community
- why she doesn’t need to compete with anyone else - she just wants to see what she can do
Tips from Rach
Rach shared some beautifully simple advice for runners, especially busy parents:
1. Start small
You don’t need to start with big distances. Rach started with 1.5km to 3km before work. Small runs still count.
2. Make it easy to get out the door
One of the reasons running worked for Rach was because she didn’t have to drive anywhere. She could roll out of bed, put her shoes on, and go.
3. Use what you have
A $20 running pram helped Rach build consistency when Jada was tiny. You don’t need everything to be perfect - you just need something that helps you start.
4. Communicate with your partner
Rach and Pete talk the night before about what each of them needs for their run the next day. It’s simple, but it means they can support each other instead of clashing.
5. Be flexible
If you planned 10km but only have time for 5km, do the 5km. Don’t throw the whole run away just because it can’t be perfect.
6. Make running a non-negotiable
Rach’s point was simple - time doesn’t magically appear. You need to decide that your run matters and make space for it.
7. Get creative with kids
Kids can ride bikes while you run, play at the oval while you run laps, or join in where they can. It won’t always look perfect, but it can work.
8. One kilometre can be enough
Rach has a 1km block she can run when life is busy. It’s not about fitness every time - sometimes it’s about taking five minutes for yourself.
9. Strength matters
Rach admits she would always choose running over strength, but trail running and backyard ultras have shown her how important strength work is.
10. Self-care is not selfish
This was one of the biggest themes of the episode. Rach believes running has made her more “selfish” in the best possible way - because taking care of herself helps her show up better everywhere else.
Favourite idea from the episode
You don’t need more hours in the day to become a runner.
You need to decide that your wellbeing matters enough to take a small slice of the day back for yourself.
Sometimes that’s a long run.
Sometimes that’s a backyard ultra.
And sometimes it’s one kilometre around the block.
It all counts.
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Event Website:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra?
Entries are open now for Saturday 1 May 2027 - and if 2026 is anything to go by, it’s going to be bigger, better, and likely to sell out.
Enter here:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Jun 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
3 min
Have you ever noticed what your hands are doing while you run?
This week’s ZenRUN Moment focuses on a tiny adjustment that can have a surprisingly big impact: softening your hands while you run.
Many runners carry tension in their hands without even realising it. We clench our fists, tighten our fingers, and hold onto stress as we move through our runs. The funny thing is, that tension rarely stays in our hands. It often travels up into our wrists, forearms, shoulders, neck, and even our jaw.
On your next run, try checking in every now and then. Are your hands relaxed or clenched? Imagine you’re lightly holding a potato chip you don’t want to crush. Let your fingers soften. Let your wrists relax. Notice what happens further up your body. Many runners find their shoulders drop, their breathing feels easier, and their whole run becomes a little more relaxed.
It’s a great reminder that running doesn’t always require us to try harder. Sometimes the biggest improvements come from letting go rather than tightening up.
Give it a try on your next run and see what you notice.
Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.
💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this ZenRUN Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
Jun 9, 2026
Jun 9, 2026
2hr 20 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Ben Ridley - Perth runner, Delirious West athlete, self-declared road runner, proud husband of Karin Ridley, and possibly one of the most committed “super crew” members in the ultra-running world.
Ben’s story starts with a childhood full of sport - footy, swimming, surf lifesaving, T-ball, basketball - basically everything except running.
Because running?
Absolutely not.
Ben grew up with chronic asthma, tricky knees, and a very strong dislike of running. But life has a funny way of circling back.
After years of work, family life, health challenges, weight struggles, FIFO, mental health battles, and a major lifestyle shift, Ben and Karin found themselves at parkrun.
And that changed everything.
What started as a Saturday morning “why would anyone do this?” moment slowly became 5Ks, 10Ks, trails, half marathons, Feral Pig, Delirious West, 100 milers, 200 miler attempts, big DNFs, big lessons, big friendships, and a running life Ben never expected.
This episode is funny, honest, emotional, and very Ben.
We talk about weight loss surgery, running for mental health, the magic of parkrun, the chaos of Delirious West, crewing Karin, hallucinations, chafing, broken tyres, beers at aid stations, podcast-fuelled road running, and why community might be the greatest thing running has given him.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
Ben shares:
- How he went from not being able to run a couple of hundred metres to becoming an ultra runner
- Why parkrun was the perfect no-pressure place to begin
- How he and Karin rebuilt their health together
- The reality of weight loss surgery - and why it was definitely not the “easy way out”
- His first 50K at Feral Pig and why he was “carrying on like a pork chop” halfway through
- His unforgettable Delirious West 100 miler finish with only 30 minutes to spare
- What it was like crewing Karin through her 200 miler after his own race ended
- The grief and emotion of losing his mum during Delirious
- Why DNFs hurt, but don’t define you
- How running has become one of his biggest mental health tools
- Why he’s currently loving road running, Melbourne Marathon training, and running into the MCG
- Why running with mates, coffee after parkrun, and pub run friendships matter so much
- Why Delirious still has baggage, but also still has a pull
- How he’s heading back to Delirious with mates for the Great Southern Beer Run
Tips From Ben
Ben shared some really practical, honest advice for runners who are struggling to get out the door:
1. Find your reason why
Don’t just run because you “should.” Work out why it matters to you. Is it your mental health? Your fitness? Your friendships? A goal? A bit of space from life?
That reason helps get you moving when motivation disappears.
2. Remember how you feel once you’re out there
Ben says the hardest part is often getting out the door. Once you’re moving, things start to shift. Your head clears. Life feels a bit lighter. The run does what it came to do.
3. Use something that helps you get started
For Ben, that might be a podcast, music, a book, or just being out on the trail listening to birds and trees.
The point is simple: make the run easier to begin.
4. Run with people when you can
Community has been huge for Ben. Parkrun, pub run, trail events, Ultra Series, coffee after runs - these people have become lifelong friends.
Sometimes running is less about the running and more about who it brings into your life.
5. Walking counts
Ben’s reminder is simple and brilliant:
Half an hour is better than nothing.
If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t do the full plan, do something. It still matters.
6. Strength training helps
Ben is a big believer in strength work for runners, especially if you want to keep running longer distances, reduce injury risk, and avoid the post-run “can’t sit down on the toilet” situation.
Very practical. Very true.
A Beautiful Reminder From Ben’s Story
Ben’s story is a reminder that running doesn’t have to start perfectly.
You don’t need to grow up as “a runner.”
You don’t need to be fast.
You don’t need to have it all together.
You can start with one parkrun.
You can walk.
You can struggle.
You can DNF.
You can come back.
And somewhere along the way, running might become less about proving something - and more about finding your people, clearing your head, and becoming someone you never expected to be.
Connect With Ben
You’ll most likely find Ben at parkrun, pub run, crewing Karin, running roads, signing up for something ridiculous with mates, or preparing for his next Delirious adventure.
And if you see him at an aid station, he may remind you:
You did choose to do this.
Delirious WEST event Website - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you, or someone you know, has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Jun 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
3 min
Most runners think a run starts when they press start on their watch.
But what if the most important part of your run is actually the first minute?
In this first ZenRUN Moment, we’re focusing on something incredibly simple: noticing the beginning of your run. Not your pace. Not your distance. Not whether today’s run is going to feel easy or hard. Just the first sixty seconds.
As you head out the door, bring your attention to what’s actually happening right now.
Notice your breathing. Listen to the sound of your feet touching the ground. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin.
Check in with your body. Do your legs feel fresh, heavy, stiff, or full of energy today?
There are no right or wrong answers - just information.
Most of us start running while our mind is still somewhere else. We’re thinking about work, family, errands, emails, or the rest of the day ahead.
This simple practice helps you arrive properly. It helps you settle into the run you’re actually having, instead of the one you’re thinking about.
On your next run, don’t rush through the beginning. Treat the first minute as a doorway. Step through it deliberately and see what changes.
Running often feels different when we stop trying to get somewhere and start noticing where we already are.
Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the experience of a run.
💛 Want your running and your headspace to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this ZenRUN Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
Or email hello@zenrun.club
Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 2026
1hr 51 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Suzanne Rath - Irish farm girl, physio, business owner, leadership coach, trail runner, adventure collector, and someone who seems to casually say yes to things like cycling across South America, running from Sydney to Newcastle, and possibly signing up for Delirious WEST.
As you do.
Suzanne grew up on a farm in Wexford, Ireland, where resilience, self-reliance, and a “how hard can it be?” attitude were basically part of daily life. From there, her story takes us through physio study, hospital work, Uganda, Sydney, a serious cycling accident, concussion recovery, Katherine in the Northern Territory, and eventually Cairns - where she now runs a multidisciplinary allied health clinic.
But this conversation is much more than a running story.
It’s about what happens when life knocks you sideways.
It’s about rebuilding after injury.
It’s about adventure, identity, leadership, values, community, and learning that running doesn’t have to be about pace, PBs, or proving anything.
Sometimes running becomes the place where we get space to think.
Sometimes it becomes the thing that reminds us what we’re capable of.
And sometimes it becomes the reason we find ourselves surrounded by people who think running 270km from Sydney to Newcastle sounds like a perfectly reasonable personal challenge.
Which, obviously, it is not.
But also… I get it.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
In this conversation, Suzanne shares:
- What it was like growing up on a farm in Ireland
- How running first became part of her life through community and connection
- Her time working as a physio in Uganda
- The serious bike accident that led to a broken jaw, post-concussion symptoms, pain, anxiety, and a long recovery
- Why trail running helped her fall back in love with running
- How she built a whole-person allied health clinic in Cairns
- Why running and leadership have more in common than most people think
- Her Sydney to Newcastle trail adventure - including flash flooding, leeches, getting lost, wet feet, and a very patient support crew
- Why she believes organised 200-mile races might actually be easier than self-supported chaos
- How she fits running, business, travel, speaking, leadership coaching, and big adventures into real life
- Why motivation is not the thing to rely on
- Why running is a privilege - especially when it’s hard
Suzanne’s Running Tips
Suzanne shared so many great reminders in this episode, including:
Minimise the friction.
Have your gear ready. Know what you’re doing. Remove as many tiny obstacles as possible so getting out the door doesn’t become a negotiation.
Put your running in the calendar first.
Suzanne plans her week around the things that matter - including training, adventure, family, and recovery - rather than waiting to “find time” later.
Don’t rely on motivation.
As Suzanne says, if she waited until she felt motivated, she might never run again. Make it easier to start instead.
Have something to aim for.
It doesn’t have to be a huge event. It can be a small goal, a race, a trail, an adventure, or simply something that gives your running a little spark.
Stay connected when you’re injured.
If you can’t run, don’t disappear. Go to breakfast. Cheer people on. Stay part of the running community.
Remember what a privilege it is.
Even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when your feet are wet and your brain is questioning your life choices - it’s still a privilege to be able to move, explore, and do these things.
A Favourite Moment
One of my favourite parts of this conversation was Suzanne talking about how the joy came back into running when it became aligned with her values.
Not when she got faster.
Not when she ticked off another race.
Not when she proved anything.
But when running became connected to adventure, community, potential, and living in a way that felt true to her.
And honestly, that feels very ZenRUN.
Listen To This Episode If…
You’ll love this episode if you’ve ever:
- Come back from injury
- Lost your running mojo
- Wanted more adventure in your life
- Felt like your business, work, or responsibilities were swallowing all your time
- Used running as thinking space
- Wondered whether trail runners are all slightly unhinged
- Signed up for something before fully understanding the logistics
- Needed a reminder that running can be about joy, freedom, and possibility
This is such a rich, funny, thoughtful conversation with a woman who has lived a lot of life, taken a lot of brave turns, and somehow still has more adventures planned.
I loved this chat.
And I think you will too.
Suzanne’s practice in Cairns - Wellness Embodied:
https://www.wellnessembodiedcairns.com/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you (or someone you know) has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Jun 2, 2026
Jun 2, 2026
1hr 6 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Astrid Volzke — runner, photographer, professional stickybeak, and the official photographer behind so many of the iconic images from Delirious West.
If you’ve ever run Delirious, followed the event online, or changed your Facebook profile photo to one of those stunning trail-running shots, chances are Astrid was behind the camera.
But this chat isn’t just about photography.
Astrid shares her story of growing up in Singapore, moving to Western Australia, camping adventures with her family, finding her way into photography, and eventually becoming part of the trail running world. Her journey includes early morning boats with fishermen, newspaper photojournalism, community storytelling, trail running, Birdy’s Backyard, and of course, many long days and nights capturing the raw emotion of Delirious West.
We talk about how photographing a 200-mile event is an endurance event in itself — the planning, the mental focus, the sleep deprivation, the gear, the editing, the sandy night drives, and the constant decision-making that happens behind the scenes. Astrid says she’s either shooting or editing for most of the week, often chasing sunrise, sunset, emotional moments, funny poses, and the gritty reality of what runners go through.
Astrid also shares what running means to her personally. She started trail running through a team at Margaret River Ultra, found herself hooked by the people and adventure, and has since become part of the wider ultra-running community in a very unique way — sometimes as a runner, often as the photographer, and always as someone deeply immersed in the story.
One of my favourite parts of this conversation is Astrid’s reflection on motivation. Her advice is simple and very ZenRUN:
You don’t have to feel motivated first.
You just have to start.
Whether it’s running, photography, or any creative project, Astrid says momentum often comes after you begin — not before. Tie the shoelaces. Step outside. Pick up the camera. Start with the first step, and the rest often follows.
This is a relaxed, funny, behind-the-scenes chat with someone who has seen Delirious West from a perspective most of us never will — behind the lens, in the dark, on the beach, in the dust, at the finish line, and sometimes crying behind the camera.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Growing up in Singapore and moving to Perth as a child
- How Astrid found photography after realising agribusiness wasn’t quite her thing
- Life as a photojournalist and freelance photographer
- Why photography is really about storytelling
- How trail running entered her life
- The origins of Birdy’s Backyard
- Why photographing Delirious West is its own kind of endurance event
- The mental load of capturing a multi-day ultra
- The hilarious runner poses Astrid has captured over the years
- Why runners don’t have to run when they see the photographer
- The emotion, grit, joy and humanity of 200-mile events
- Why Astrid would love to run a point-to-point adventure event one day
- Her simple motivation tip: just start
Astrid’s Tip for Runners
Don’t wait until you feel motivated.
Just start.
Go outside. Take the first step. Begin slowly. Often the motivation comes once you’re already moving.
And if you’re out on course and see Astrid with her camera?
You don’t have to run.
But apparently, most of us do anyway 😆
Connect with Astrid
Delirious WEST
Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset — a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
41 min
Welcome to the next episode in the 2026 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Mini-Series on the ZenRUN Podcast.
This series follows a handful of athletes through their actual Melbourne Frontyard Ultra journey - not just the polished version after the event, but the little check-ins along the way. The tired bits. The funny bits. The snack updates. The “what on earth am I doing?” moments. And eventually, the wrap-up chat when their race is done.
In this episode, we’re following the wonderful Nagiska Mayes.
And this one has heart. A lot of heart.
Nagiska didn’t grow up as a runner. In fact, she was very clear that running was absolutely not her thing as a kid. No school cross-country glory. No sporty childhood origin story. More like “please write me a note so I can sit this one out” energy.
But years later, after getting married, joining a gym, Covid closing everything down, and her husband Jack suggesting they “just go for a run,” things slowly started to shift.
First it was 200 metres.
Then 1.1 kilometres to the footy oval.
Then 2K.
Then 3.5K.
Then somehow, as these things tend to happen, Nagiska found herself running ultras.
As you do.
By the time she arrived at Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, Nagiska had already completed Surf Coast Century 100K and had fallen into the wonderfully strange world of ultra-running, largely helped along by Jack, her best friend Rach, and a healthy dose of “if they can do it, maybe I can too.”
Her previous backyard ultra PB was 14 hours.
At Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, she went on to reach 30 yards and 200 kilometres.
That is not a small jump.
That is a giant, emotional, slightly ridiculous leap into “holy moly, look what I just did” territory.
In this episode, you’ll hear Nagiska before the race, full of nervous excitement and ready to find her limit. You’ll hear her around yard 24, about to reach her first ever 100 miler and already well past anything she’d done before. You’ll hear the emotional wobble around yard 26, when the doubts started creeping in and the support from her crew became everything.
And then in the wrap-up, you’ll hear the full story of how she made it to yard 30 - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
This is a conversation about big goals, self-doubt, comparison, love, teamwork, the stories we tell ourselves, and what can happen when someone who knows you well refuses to let you quit on yourself too soon.
There are tears.
There is swearing.
There is Turkish delight and V.
There is a Vegemite sandwich.
There is a very wise husband.
There is a best friend.
There is a 200K bell ring.
And there is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the biggest achievement is not just the distance you cover, but the story you rewrite along the way.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
- You’ll hear the raw, real version of a huge Frontyard Ultra breakthrough
- Nagiska shares honestly about not growing up sporty and building her running from scratch
- We talk about fear, self-doubt, comparison, and the pressure we put on ourselves
- There’s a beautiful story of Jack supporting Nagiska through the hardest yards
- Nagiska reaches 30 yards and 200K, doubling her distance PB
- You’ll hear what it means to share a huge running moment with your husband and best friend
- It’s funny, emotional, honest, and very very human
A Few Favourite Themes
You don’t have to start as “a runner”
Nagiska’s story is such a good reminder that you don’t need a sporty childhood or a perfect running background to do big things.
Tiny steps can become massive adventures
From 200 metres around the block to 200 kilometres at Melbourne Frontyard Ultra. That’s a pretty solid progression.
The stories we tell ourselves matter
One of the strongest parts of this episode is Nagiska talking about the narration in her own head - and how that story nearly convinced her she was done.
Crew can change everything
Jack, Rach, Peter and the rest of the support crew weren’t just practical help. They became part of the reason Nagiska kept going.
You can be proud and still process it all
Sometimes the emotion hits before the pride does. This episode captures that beautifully.
Listen In For
- Nagiska’s “running was not my thing” childhood story
- How Covid, gym closures and Jack helped start her running journey
- Her first 100K at Surf Coast Century
- Why she wanted to find her limit at MFYU
- The leap from a 14-hour backyard PB to 30 yards
- Yard 24 and her first ever 100 miler
- The emotional moment where she worried about letting Jack down
- The role of her crew and brother-in-law Peter
- Turkish delight, V, Vegemite sandwiches and ultra-running food logic
- The mental battle between being done and going one more yard
- How Jack helped her reframe the story in her head
- Reaching 200K with Jack and Rach
- The beautiful “we make a good team” moment
- What Nagiska learned about herself through the event
Mentioned In This Episode
- Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
- Ultra Series Australia
- Shaun Kaesler
- Surf Coast Century
- Wild Dog Backyard Ultra
- You Yangs 100 Miler
- Hardcore Harry’s King of the Hill
- The Prom
- Wonthaggi
- Daft Punk’s “One More Time”
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Event Website
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra?
Entries are open now for Saturday 1 May 2027 - and if 2026 is anything to go by, it’s going to be bigger, better, and likely to sell out.
Enter here:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
May 28, 2026
May 28, 2026
2 min
This week’s mindful moment is a powerful reset: do one thing in slow motion. Choose a simple, everyday action - making your coffee, tying your shoes, closing the car door - and deliberately slow it right down. Slower than feels natural. As you move, notice each step involved, the movement of your hands, your breath, your posture. It’s amazing how much we rush without even realising.
By slowing just one thing, you create a small pocket of awareness where time feels like it stretches… just a little. And in that space, you reconnect with yourself. No extra time needed - just a different pace.
This small habit can become a quiet anchor in your day - a moment to pause, breathe, and return to the present without needing to stop everything you’re doing.
Little moments like this add up. And often they’re the beginning of something bigger.
💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this Mindful Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
May 27, 2026
May 27, 2026
3hr 4 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Peta Moore - wildlife lover, ultra runner, Perth Zoo vet nurse, trail adventurer, and fellow member of the 2026 Delirious West DNF crew.
Peta’s story starts in a small coal mining town in Central Queensland, where she definitely did not grow up thinking she was sporty. There was a bit of T-ball, some Highland dancing, a serious Muay Thai phase, and eventually a life built around animals, wildlife, conservation, and the odd capybara obsession.
From wildlife biology to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, bear rescue work in Vietnam, zookeeping in Alice Springs, and eventually Perth Zoo, Peta’s life has been full of animals, adventure, and a very healthy amount of chaos.
And then running arrived.
What started as a Couch to 5K attempt on the trails around Alice Springs - complete with hills, heat, sunsets, and a dog by her side - slowly turned into trail running, ultra running, 100 milers, 200 milers, injury comebacks, big adventures, and a very deep love for the WA trail running community.
We talk about Peta’s first ultras, her love-hate relationship with backyard events, finishing her first 200 miler in the Blue Mountains, crying at aid stations, eating emergency Twisties for breakfast, getting through terrifying cliff sections with the help of “Spider Lady”, and the weird way ultra runners can suddenly find themselves saying things like, “There’s only 80k to go!”
Of course, we also talk about Delirious West 2026, where Peta went in with one of her best training blocks, a year of injury-free running behind her, and plenty of confidence - only to fall off a boardwalk just 3km into the race. From there, she managed pain, problem-solved, kept moving, questioned her sanity more than once, and eventually made the hard decision to stop at Treetop when the joy had gone and the risk felt too high.
This conversation is honest, funny, emotional, and full of the real stuff that happens between start lines and finish lines - including the grief of a DNF, the fear of more injury, the pull of community, and the deep love that keeps bringing us back to the trails.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
You’ll hear about:
- Peta growing up in a tiny Central Queensland mining town
- Her path into wildlife biology, zoo medicine, and vet nursing
- Running in Alice Springs, Vietnam, Perth, Spain, the Blue Mountains and WA trails
- Her first trail events and how she got sucked into the ultra world
- Why the WA trail running community became her second family
- Her first 200 miler at Unreasonable in the Blue Mountains
- Sleep deprivation, aid station meltdowns, and emergency Twisties
- The injury rollercoaster: shoulder surgery, knee surgery, stress fractures and comebacks
- Her 2026 Delirious West 200 miler DNF
- Why stopping can sometimes be the strongest decision
- The strange grief that can come after a DNF
- Why running is still worth it, even when it breaks your heart a little
Tips from Peta’s Story
1. Community matters more than we realise.
Peta talks beautifully about finding her people through trail running. When injury kept her from racing, she stayed connected by volunteering, crewing, cheering and showing up.
2. A DNF still contains a huge amount of courage.
Peta’s Delirious West didn’t end the way she hoped, but she still pushed through a massive amount of pain, made smart decisions, and protected her future running.
3. Don’t ignore pain just because you’re tough.
Ultra runners are excellent at tolerating discomfort - sometimes too excellent. Peta’s story is a good reminder that pain is information, especially when there’s a history of injury.
4. Cross-training can be a gift.
During injury recovery, Peta discovered cycling and realised it made her stronger. Sometimes the thing we’re forced into becomes part of the bigger picture.
5. Running will wait for you.
One of the loveliest reminders from this episode is that if you need a break, running is still there. The trails are still there. The community is still there.
6. It’s okay to grieve the race you didn’t get to finish.
A DNF can feel like losing the version of the story you’d been imagining. Peta speaks honestly about needing to process that.
7. Keep coming back - but come back wisely.
Peta’s story isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about healing, rebuilding, adjusting, and still believing there are more adventures ahead.
Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you, or someone you know, has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
2hr 18 min
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with Chris Atkinson - teacher, lifelong runner, trail lover, proud New Zealander, Cairns local… and the 2026 Delirious West 200 miler winner.
Chris and I met at Delirious West this year, and I loved having the chance to sit down properly and hear more about his running journey, his life, and what led him to take on his very first 200-mile race.
We start right back at the beginning, with Chris growing up in a tiny town at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island, where running, rugby, fishing and community were all part of life. From primary school runs along dirt roads, to athletics clubs, cross country, rugby injuries, teaching, travel, trail running in New Zealand, Tasmania, Europe, Hong Kong and now Queensland - running has followed Chris through every chapter.
And then, of course, we dive into Delirious.
Chris went into Delirious West thinking he might finish somewhere around 80 hours. Instead, he moved steadily through the field, managed knee pain, hallucinations, getting lost, no sleep, long stretches alone, and still crossed the finish line first in 67 hours and 30 minutes. As you do.
What I loved most about this conversation was how calm and thoughtful Chris is about the whole thing. He didn’t go into Delirious with a huge ego or a dramatic race plan. He went in curious. Could he do 200 miles? Could his body and mind work through the problems? Could he keep moving, stay calm, and solve one thing at a time?
Turns out… yes. Very much yes.
Chris shares so many brilliant insights from the race, including how he planned conservatively, how his wife Dee crewed him through the event, how they refined the plan as they went, what worked nutrition-wise, why he didn’t sleep, what it was like running alone at the front, and how important it was to eventually team up with Dom in the later stages when fatigue and hallucinations were really kicking in.
We also talk about the deeper stuff running gives us - freedom, identity, resilience, connection, and that feeling of being completely alive out on the trails. Chris shares one of his favourite lessons from running: run your own race. Not just in events, but in life.
And then there’s Fred.
Fred is Chris’s 78-year-old running friend from New Zealand who still runs, travels, tries new things, tells stories, and lives with the kind of young, adventurous mindset we could all learn from. Honestly, I think we may have accidentally started a new movement in this episode: Be Like Fred.
This is a beautiful, funny, thoughtful conversation about trail running, ultra running, teaching, family, adventure, crewing, nutrition, sleep deprivation, community, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is put your shoes on and head out the door.
In this episode we chat about:
- Chris growing up in a small New Zealand town
- How running became part of his life from a young age
- Moving from track, cross country and rugby into trail and ultra running
- Why trail running felt more soulful and less injury-prone than road or club racing
- Chris’s first 200 miler at Delirious West
- Winning the 2026 Delirious West 200 miler in 67 hours and 30 minutes
- Starting at the back and naturally moving through the field
- Managing knee pain early in the race
- Running without sleep for the whole event
- Hallucinations, spiderwebs, kangaroos and late-night trail weirdness
- The role of Dee, Chris’s wife and crew
- Nutrition strategies, including instant mash, soup, maltodextrin and slow-cooked lamb
- Getting lost near Cozy Corner and being guided out by Scott Bunny
- Why Delirious felt both physically and mentally complex
- The importance of staying calm and solving one problem at a time
- Running your own race - in running and in life
- Why big ultra races are never really solo events
- Chris’s love of trails, quiet, nature and freedom
- Why we should all aim to “Be Like Fred”
Tips from Chris
Run your own race.
Chris says this is the advice he gives his son, and it applies to life as much as running. Listen to others, learn what you can, but in the end it’s your body, your legs, your pace, and your decisions.
Have a plan, but don’t cling to it.
Chris had a spreadsheet, pacing estimates, food ideas and crew notes - but the race still changed almost immediately. The plan gave him something to work from, but he stayed flexible.
Practise your nutrition before race day.
Chris worked with Erin from Ultra Appetites after struggling with GI issues in previous races. Getting his nutrition right made a huge difference at Delirious.
Keep things simple when you’re tired.
By later in the race, Chris and Dee had a rhythm: instant mash, soup, protein shakes, electrolytes, maltodextrin, charging gear, strapping the knee, then back out again. Simple wins when your brain is fried.
Let people help you.
Chris makes a beautiful point that Delirious might look like an individual event, but it really isn’t. You need crew, aid stations, race directors, volunteers, other runners, nutrition advice, and people who believe you can keep going.
Get outside.
Chris’s motivation tip is beautifully simple: put your shoes on, head outside, and spend time in nature. Run, walk, explore, notice the birds, breathe the fresh air. Something is better than nothing.
Be Like Fred.
Stay curious. Keep moving. Try new things. Tell stories. Stay young in your mindset. And keep loving the trails for as long as you possibly can.
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you - or someone you know - has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.